It's been almost six months since Prince William's mum died in a tragic car accident. Here's the latest on how he's coping, where he's hanging, and what comes next for Wills
School Days
Wills lives in an ivy-covered dorm called Manor House with 49 other guys, Because many are the sons of wealthy aristocrats, it's not so weird to his schoolmates that he's the future King of Britain.
School has been a haven for His Royal Shyness. The strict daily routine helps the popular 15-year-old student get in gear. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m., followed by chapel service and morning classes. After chowing down around 1:30, Wills has a long sports break before classes start again at 4. Naturally creative (Wills happens to be left-handed), he's said to have a flair for art and French.
This year, Wills will have to take and pass the first in a series of national exa,s that all British univeristy-bound kids take.
Wills exclusive all-boys boarding school, Eton College, has more than 1,200 students. There are two swimming pools, a golf course, and dozens of soccer, rugby, and cricket fields.
Time with Dad
Wills's school schedule kept him in England, but Dad is slated to take Wills to Nepal this month.
Wills spends 38 weeks a year at school and, since his mom died, the rest with his father. Prince Charles is protective, but he's also a cool dad. When he took Wills's 13-year-old brother, Harry, on a trip to South Africa last fall, Charles made it possible for Harry to hang backstage with the Spice Girls!
Wills and Diana
Wills and his mom were tight, so it's been tough for him to deal with her death. He kept her diamond-and-sapphire engagement ring as a reminder of the happy times his parents once shared.
In her will, Diana left Wills and Harry $15 million each. The money will stay in trust funds until each boy is 25 years old.
Diana's sibs-Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Earl Charles Spencer-keep tabs on their nephews. The boys chat on the phone with their aunts almost daily. Their uncle lives in South Africa, but when he was in London last November on business, he made time to take William out to lunch.
Diana showed her sons the fun side of royal life. When Wills told her he dug Cindy Crawford, Diana invited the supermodel to tea.
Will's Hang Time
Supported by family and firends, he's finding the courage to adjust to life without the nuturing of his mother. Wills and Harry are scheduled to move with their father this year to new digs on the grounds of St. James's Palace in London. When the guys move into the five-bedroom York House, they'll find it outfittd with a computer and a pool table.
Sporty Stud. Standing more than six feet tall, Wills is a natural jock-and he's known for having a great time playing all kinds of sports. Along with being an avid rower, Wills is a center on an Eton rugby (it's sort of like football) team, and he enjoys playing soccer.
He's into skiing and mountain biking, and he's got a rep for blowin' by his buds on the go-cart track. Though he won't be able to get his driver's license until he's 17, he's already scored some real practice. Prince Charles has let Wills take the wheel of Dad's Land Rover at Balmoral, the family estate in Scotland.
His daredevil tendencies don't end on land. Wills has been spotted taking a 30-foot-dive off a yacht into the Mediterranean Sea. He's also been spied at the helm of a Jet Ski. Plus, he's way into traditional royal sports, like hunting and fishing.
Royal Cutie. Wills's good looks and athletic build are the obvious reasons he's a fave pinup boy in Brit teen mags. While there hasn't been any talk of a girlfriend, one London tabloid reported that some girls tracked down his dorm phone number. Naturally, Wills has major security, so he probably only takes calls when he knows who's on the phone.
Security aside, Wills is a down-to-earth dude. He's been known to keep a picture of Pamela Lee in his school locker. He's also said to like Emma "Baby" Spice.
How to Contact Him
The world is still talking about Diana. By last November 250,000 letters of condolence had reached Prince Charles and his sons. By then, Prince William was trying to move on. He kept up his royal fmaily responsibilities by making a rare public appearance at the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, at Westminister Abbey. It was his first official outing since his mum's funeral.
We got tons of mail from you showing concern for Wills, so we're going to help get your letters to him. We'll gather all the mail and deliver it directly to St. James's Palace in London. Send your Prince William letters c/o YM, P.O. Box 5942, New York, NY 10163-5942, by February 28, 1998.
